The Implication
Mirror Twin Brewing

 

 

Boy, those ole' Brits never saw this coming. Their pub days of classic, somber and sane brown ale were thought to be quite robust and full bodied. But they had no idea that in 2017 that Mirror Twin would celebrate their first year anniversary with a massive, thirteen percent brown ale that's laced with maple syrup and laid down in bourbon barrels for a solid turn of the calendar.

But that's what has happened as The Implication shows a dark and tawny brown pour, light on soft ecru foam and lightly hazed with a mysterious garnet glow. Its ominous yet masculine appearance foreshadows a decadent scent of dark sugars, chocolate, toast, dark fruit, syrups and of course those Four Roses bourbon barrel complements. Even sweeter to taste, the beer might as well belong on pancakes as its chocolates, brown sugar, roasty, savory and butter pecan sweetness slathers the tongue with unabashed maltiness.

As the middle palate unfolds, the beer continues its lavishly sweet onslaught. Highly dessert-like, the sugars invite the complexity of dark fruit with plum, prune, raisin, grape, date and fig, somewhat implying a barleywine and sherry character. Bourbon brings its own caramels, vanillans and coconut nuances to complement the maple syrup for increases sweetness and smoothness. But the spices of the barrel and a slight vinous tartness offer a much needed reprieve to take an edge off of the syrupy malts.

Full bodied and feeling as if an old ale or barleywine, the beer carries a stinging booziness that's not for the faint of heart, but might fit right at home in bourbon country. Cherry, berry and a fruitcake medley rise with the barrel tannins and the simmering heat of booze for a long, savory and emboldened after palate.